Blue Jays Skipper Sends Vladimir Guerrero Jr Message As Concerns Mount

The Toronto Blue Jays had dropped their latest series against the Tampa Bay Rays even before Wednesday’s final game was played and fans could be getting anxious.

The team enjoyed a second-half surge and a Cinderella run all the way to Game 7 of the World Series last year, but after bringing in a number of win-now additions for the roster, the slow start to this campaign has become concerning.

“Bogged down by injuries, it feels like the entire season has been a holding pattern waiting to get healthy,” Rob Longley wrote for the Toronto Sun. “The Jays, after all, have only had three games in which each of Alejandro Kirk, George Springer and Addison Barger have been in the lineup.”

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Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr Mired In Lackluster Season

But even with those key position players sidelined for much of the season so far, Blue Jays fans could be expecting more out of one of the healthy players, as franchise slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has fallen short.

After signing a $500 million extension with the team last year, Guerrero has returned this season with just two home runs and a .377 slugging percentage that is well below his career average. With the team becoming desperate for more runs, Guerrero’s lack of power has been generating some concerns.

“Any discussion of the state of the Blue Jays one quarter into a lacklustre season has to start with the absent impact of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,” Longley added. “Where the season goes from here — and it needs to pick up steam in a hurry — may well rest with the big man who is supposed to wield a booming bat, but has been nowhere near the dynamic force his team needs.”

Though injuries and adjustments by players who are new to the team can be expected, a prolonged power outage from Guerrero is not. But in the meantime, there’s reason to believe he is trying a bit too hard to live up to his blockbuster contract.

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Toronto Blue Jays Skipper John Schneider Singles Out Vladimir Guerrero Jr Issue

With concerns growing, Blue Jays manager John Schneider suggested the slugger is trying to press too hard at the plate.

“I think he’s at the point where he wants to be the guy to carry us,” Schneider explained, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “The more he does that, the harder it gets.”

As the team’s losses pile up and Guerrero’s lack of home runs becomes more pronounced, the franchise face could be tempted to press even more at the plate. But last year proved that it isn’t too late for the Blue Jays to turn things around and Schneider seems to think the best solution for the first baseman would be to take it as easy as he can.